Bug#35462: boot-floppies: hangs at `Loading root.bin...'

[Jonathan H N Chin <jhnc@pfaff.newton.cam.ac.uk>]

Package: boot-floppies
Version: N/A

I have a Gateway2000 DX2-66P, which is based on a 486dx2/66 processor
and has PCI. The machine was made in 1994 I believe. The system is
configured more or less as bought except that the 3-1/2" floppy drive has
been replaced by one out of a (probably even more ancient) Packard Bell.
I can supply part/model numbers if they would be of interest.

I have attempted to boot from all eight 1.44M rescue disks from slink
and potato (resc1440, resc1440-safe, resc1440tecra, resc1440tecra-safe).
All allow viewing of the menus (F1, F2, etc), but upon hitting <return>
the floppy drive goes <read> <read> <read> and stops with

Loading root.bin...

on the screen. The drive light remains lit, but there is no disk activity
(the floppy can be removed and reinserted to no effect).

NOTE: I tried the current Redhat boot.img and it loads fine.

All boot attempts have been made using the same floppy disk.

Could this be a problem with syslinux perhaps?




-- System Information
Debian Release: potato
Kernel Version: Linux pfaff 2.0.36-awe+tea #1 Mon Mar 1 21:11:13 GMT 1999 i586 unknown